What's the news?
BMW has launched the new longer range i3 electric car in Ireland, and in something of a sign of the emerging times, the launch was a shared event with micro renting company GoCar, which has put ten of the i3s on its fleet. All ten will be available on Dublin's streets for instant rental, but the good news for private owners is that the i3 now has a longer range on one charge.
The i3's battery has been enlarged, not physically, but in terms of its energy density, with the battery's capacity rising to 33kWh with a minimal weight penalty. In range terms, BMW has taken the unusual step of ignoring the official NEDC range estimation and fuel economy tests, and instead issued its own 'real-world' figures. Thusly, the pure electric BEV version of the i3 now has a claimed range of 201km on a single charge (which looks like not that big an improvement over the outgoing model, but actually, in real terms, represents a significant increase. The REX version, which uses a compact two-cylinder petrol engine with a nine-litre fuel tank to act as an on-board generator for longer journeys, now has a claimed one-charge range of 332km.
The rest of the car is unchanged, so you get the same minimalist interior, the same rear-hinged back doors, the same 260-litre boot and the same instant-fling performance from the 170hp rear-wheel drive electric motor.
Incidentally, because the size of the battery stack is unchanged, it should be possible for owners of the old i3 to upgrade, but BMW Ireland is still working out the details and prices for this.
Speaking of prices, they start from €36,300 on the road for the BEV version (including all government grants and rebates) and €43,330 for the REX version.
GoCar's decision to take on a fleet of ten i3s could be just as significant. The Dublin-based short-term rental firm has previously claimed that it has taken the equivalent of 2,000 cars off of Dublin's streets because if the success of its on-street fleet of rental cars. With it now being able to offer electric propulsion through its new GoElectric scheme, it can not only claim to be more eco-friendly in its car choice, it can also piggy-back on BMW's journey-planning app that advises drivers if they would be better off taking public transport for part of their journey.
Anything else?
Commenting on the launch of GoElectric, Colm Brady MD of GoCar said, "Today marks a big day in the GoCar journey as we incorporate electric vehicles into our fleet. These vehicles are state of the art premium BMW i3 vehicles and are designed to make every driving experience an absolute pleasure. The BMW i3 is ideal for city driving and we have no doubt our members and indeed the general public will instantly fall in love with them.
"Expanding our fleet offering to include electric vehicles has been a goal for us since we first launched GoCar. GoCar members have asked for both automatic cars and electric vehicles and we're delighted to be able to deliver on both to individuals and companies. GoCar offers an extensive range of vehicles that caters to different user requirements and ultimately contributes to a positive sharing economy culture in this country.
"GoCar is now giving Irish drivers the opportunity to experience an electric vehicle, without the upfront commitment of buying one. The hope is that this will allow members to experience electric vehicles, and if users enjoy the BMW i3, then more will be added to the service. This also brings the added benefit of increasing electric vehicle usage in Ireland."
Paulo Alves, Managing Director of BMW Group Ireland, added, "We are delighted to bring our partnership with GoCar to life with the new BMW i3 94Ah. GoCar's car sharing service complements our strategy to promote the use of electric vehicles across the city with their GoElectric range. Dublin residents are demanding more transportation options and car sharing is a convenient choice to get around the city. We are now in a position to offer on demand, eco-friendly mobility when it is needed through this partnership.
"This partnership is a win-win for GoCar and its customers who get to experience a premium electric vehicle with extraordinary performance while being environmentally friendly. It is also a valuable partnership not just for BMW but for the motor industry as it raises awareness for electric vehicles not as cars of the future but cars of today."
Read our review of the BMW i3 94Ah